Hundreds of young footballers have been taking part in Suffolk’s largest 5-a-side tournament over the weekend.

Stowmarket Mercury: Action from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYAction from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

Organised by Stowupland Falcons, the event has seen 173 teams entered, ranging in age from under 7’s to under 16’s. More than 3,000 people have either watched or taken part in the action, with teams coming from all over Suffolk as well as Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Stowmarket Mercury: Action from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYAction from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

Peter Mayhew, one of the organisers of the two-day spectacular, said: “It’s gone very well - we’ve had lots of compliments and sold out on the barbecue, so we must be doing something right!

Stowmarket Mercury: Action from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYAction from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

It’s the main fundraiser for the club, so very important to us - it means we can charge low subs and make football more accessible to everyone who wants to play.

Stowmarket Mercury: Action from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYAction from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

The level of play is very good too – we’ve had scouts from Ipswich, Norwich and Cambridge United all here.

Stowmarket Mercury: Action from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYAction from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

I’d like to say a big thank-you to all the teams for participating and we hope to see them again next year!”

Stowmarket Mercury: Action from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYAction from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

Stowmarket Mercury: Action from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHYAction from the Stowupland 5-a-side tournament. Pictures: RICHARD MARSHAM/RMG PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)